Joyfully Seize the Benefits of the Present Hour

It seems that it makes no sense to live for the unforseen and uncertain future. Why not grasp this present hour in our hands, and extract the maximum of right now?

We are never where we want to be

Trust me, no matter how blessed the situation you’re in right now, you’re always going to find something lacking.

I think it is inside our human DNA to be perpetually dissatisfied. Now I don’t think that dissatisfaction is a defect that we must eradicate; instead, we should channel our dissatisfaction to drive ourselves upwards!

I notice this especially with photography: we are never where we want to be. We either want to be traveling, shooting more, experiencing more, finding more “keepers” in our library, or extracting benefits of fame and wide acclaim.

But what if instead of planning for the distant and uncertain future, we extracted the maximum from this present hour? The maximum benefits of now?

Revisit your old photos

I believe it is a good practice to look back at your older photos, to revisit them, re-experience them and also find “hidden gems” in your photographic portfolio.

Let us say you love traveling and find the greatest inspiration for your photography when you’re in new places and experiencing new things. But you cannot right now. Why sit around and mope about your inability to travel right now?

My suggestion: extract the maximum of the present hour. Look at your old photos, and update your photographic portfolio and website. Or perhaps use this time to study other artists to find inspiration from them. There are many benefits of NOT traveling and being stationed in one spot for certain periods of time.

For example I prefer to be on the road (nomadic living), but when I’m settled in one place for a while (suburbs of LA), I strive to seize the maximum benefits: all you can eat Korean bbq for $12.99, using my espresso machine, doing deadlifts and sauna at the gym, doing video recording vlogs, and more time to review the photos I shot while on the road (often when you’re on the road, you’re too busy shooting and experiencing new things, that you don’t have the opportunity to review your older photos).

Why this seems like a good life strategy

You literally don’t know when you will die. You might die today in a car accident, a texting-while-walking accident, or perhaps die in your sleep. Thus, planning for even a day ahead isn’t 100% certain.

We often are holding out for the optimal or ‘perfect’ opportunity in life before we start our own businesses, or do things which bring us joy and happiness. Yet, this is the problem: we think the circumstance is more powerful or influential than our own resourcefulness and our own skills/strength. What if even a shitty situation could be turned golden with your wand of Midas?

What if you knew in advance that you would never be published in a book, magazine, exhibition space, or by anyone else? Would this liberate you or depress you? To me, it would liberate myself. Why? I knew that only I (am allowed) to publish myself! This is in praise of self-publishing (via your website/blog/publishing your own books and print material).

Primary Sidebar

Cart

HAPTIC INDUSTRIES

HAPTIC makes creative tools to empower visual artists. From educational tools, art platforms, to camera equipment, HAPTIC is driven by a spirit of experimentation and creative collaboration. We are a majority women led, family operated industry, and have great pride in everything we make.

Find Your Perfect Strap

The Story of Haptic

HAPTIC MISSION: We believe in disrupting the production market for photography, art, and creative tools. We are transparent about the labor practices behind HAPTIC because we are proud and love everything we make. We support honest and beautiful work with respectful wages to our artists, artisans, and collaborators.

We are not anonymous. Our products are a story. HAPTIC products are printed, prepared, shipped from California with creative collaborators from Saigon.